New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-26
THE rE0P0SED cIrY EUILDING.

THE IROPOSED CITY HiLDINH.
The erection # the city building which the
Mayor. Controller and Recorder have recon
rncndcd is a matter TO be studiously c"nsld-
cred and discussed before final and nrcvciSi-
bic action is taken It is proposed to put up
two bulldings-aithOugh the Committee Of inc
sinking Fund Commission designate them as
two wing, Of one bulidng-Ono on ca'h sac
Of the CIty Hall Park. close 10 ChambciN-s''
TO make room for one the Hall OF Kccordi'
tho brown,tonc court house and the engine
house at Centre and Chambers stS. are to b.
torn away: but the other Will cover space no"
devoted solely to park purposes. The three
buildings which It l. intended To- dchniiNh
mlybt well be spared and superseded by "a
commodous and handsome structure, wcr" II
not that considerable part Of the park would
have to be- sacrificed also.
We do not believe that the people Of New
Work are favorable 10 the surrender Of a single
inch more Of this open space which Is now de-
voted To grass. flowers and trees There ~"
many who think II Wa serious mistake 10
give up the apex Of the triangle TO the HpY-
crnmcnt for tho Federal Building. Hence
the slicing of Of "A large piece at each OF the
other angles will BE- sure 10 be met with Wig
orous objection. The sentiment IN favor OF
more parks is pretty general. The Small
Parks Act is evidence Of this, and II seems
strange that Mayor Hewitt, who Is So earnest
in his efforts to get some OF tho small parks
established should be willing TO allow huge
city buildings to cncroach upon park space
already secured to the public.
/ # the City Hall PARK offered the only avail
able site. the case would be different But
the city owns property IN Ccnlrc-Str not over
/ i've minutes walk away. which appears IN
| many ways fitted for the purpose IN hand.
For criminal courts that would be cmphatI-
caliy the better location, beng close to the
Tombs and there could readily be such trans
| fer Of departments az would accommodate
,hc public to the best advantage. The Tax
| Receiver the Register, the County Clerk and
perhaps the sheriff should be near the civil
counts and al "A point convenient for the gen
cia public 70 reach but for the criminal
couits tho District Attorney, the Finance De
partmcnt, tho Law Department, the Park De
partmcnt, etc. it is not easy to see why the
Centre IT. property IL not admirably httcd
We do not perceive any reason why the Hall
Of Records and the brownstonc building should
not be available for some of the ctys govern
mental branches which it is desirable 10 have
grouped together near the City Hall and Court
House and away from the working quarters OF
the criminal machinery. If 1t were deemed
desirable "A tunnel could be constructed to
provide easy access between the present centre
of the municipal departments and the Centre
st. cdifcc.
The Legislature provided for the erection
Of building. To put up two structures, Z
hundred or more feet apart and wholly discon
ncctcd and call them building is absurd
You lht as we'll erect one wing OF house
at tho Battery and another OH the Harlem
River. This would be a plain violation Of The
intent Of the law. II is said that these build
ings arc to be artistically designed and vii
firm fine background for the City Hall. On
the other hand viii they not conceal and dwar
that admirable structure? a background fo
it IS not needed The City Hall can stand ~
It's own foundation, without adycntltot
aids. 1t requires no frame to show oil IT.
proportions. with which no vandals shoult
ever tampcr. But one purpose would be adj
mirably served should these disconnected
wings be built. They would hide from tn